Amalgamating and concentrating apparatus



Jan. 22, 1935. R. M. COYLE AMALGAMATING AND CONCENTRATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [N1 'EN TOR. ROBERT M.COYLE Jan. 22, 1935. R, M. COYLE AMALGAMATING AND CONCENTRATING APPARATUS 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18. 1929 INVENTOR.

3 WW 6 fi /W ROBERT M. COYLE.

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 22, 1935. CQYLE AMALGAMATING AND CONCENTRATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18. 1929 M M, a n e M M 3 I BY fV/i/ifiM/e? kaj/ .Z 5 Z W 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 {UNITE-D STATES, PATENT OFFICE I AHALGAMA'I'ING AND OONCENTRATING APPARATUS 'COyle Mineral tlon Corporation, a col.-

Application February 18, ines, Serial No. 340,154

120mm. (01. roe-4:7)

This invention relates to the recovery of values from comminuted material by tion and/or concentration, and relates particularly to the recovery of such values on a vibrating table by mercury amalgamation and/or by concentration, and has for an object to provide a device for such amalgamation and/or concentration which shall be simple and economical in construction and operation, compact, eiilcient and durable.

A further object is to provide, in a mechanism of the class described, longitudinal vibrations to a transversely riiiled table.

A further object is to provide aninterrupted vibrating movement for such table.

A further object is to provide a transversely riflled, longitudinally inclined amalgamating table with vibratory movement varying from combined longitudinal and substantially vertical at the upper end to substantially longitudinal alone at the lower end and, in such a table, to provide means for substantially eliminating said vertical vibratory movement when desired.

A further object is to provide a table of the class described which may be used for concentration alone, for amalgamation alone, and for amalgamation and concentration coincidently.

A further object is to provide means for subjecting the pulp in passage over such table, to the action of electrical current.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear and be amplified in the'following specification and be defined in appended claims, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by like characters throughout and in which Figure I is a side elevation of my amalgamator and concentrator with pulp feeder, with portions broken away and/or shown in section.

Figure II is a plan of the table partially covered, by the cathode cover in operative position over the upper portion of the table, portions being broken away.

Figure III is a section on line "A-A of Figure I showing the vibrating mechanism in plan.

Figure IV is a fragmentary section on line 13-13 of Figure HI.

Figure V is a fragmentary section on line CC of Figure 111.

Figure VI is a section on line D-D of Figure II also showing feed distributor.

Figure VII is a section on line E- of Figure VI.

Figure VIII is a section on line F--F" of Figure VI.

Figure rx is an enlarged detail section of one of the cathodes and its mounting.

Figure X is a detail of the vibration changing brace bar.

Figure XI is a fragmentary, illustrative view of the under side of the cathode cover.

In practice an amalgamator and concentrator constructed in accordance with my invention and having an outside measurement of approximately 3 feet in height, 4 feet in length and 2 feet in width will have a capacity of approximately fifty tons or more of material in twentyfour hours and a total weight of approximately three hundred and fifty pounds.

For convenience a base 1 having castors 2 may be provided and the machine may be mounted thereon as clearlyshown in Fig. I so that it may be moved from place to place as desired.

Uprights 3-carry a support 4 for motor generator unit 5 and said uprights likewise mm a frame 6 on which are supported, through vibration absorbing means as springs 'l and 8, the table 9 and the vibrating unit, clearly shown in Fig. III, the structure of the table and the vibrating unit as well as the resilient interconnections therebetween being hereinafter more fully described.

The table 9 has a riiiled fioor 9a which is pref erably made in removable sections. Whenever electrical current is to be applied to the pulp, as hereinafter described, the riflled floor is made of water proof, acid proof, insulating material such as rubber or bakelite. The table 9 is providedwith sides 9b, (thus forming, in effect, a transversely riilied, flatbottomed trough) and end piece 9c, troughs 10 and 11 being formed in the bottom of the table respectively at the upper and lower ends of the riflied, flat bottom trough.

The'table is provided with rests 9d which may be extensions of one ofthe cross members 13 hereinafter described which rests 9d rest upon springs 7 whereby the lower end of the table is resiliently supported from frame 6. The table is provided with hollow longitudinal stiffening and vibration distributing ribs 12 formed rigidly with the bottom of the table and therebeneath.

Cross members 13 of angle iron are rigidly mounted on the bottoms of the ribs 12 and to these cross members are rigidly attached the arms of rigid Y plates 14 and 15, the stems of which are attached to resilient cross members 22 and 23 for forming the resilient inter-connection between the table. above described and the vibrating unit which will now be described.

The vibrating unit is clearly illustrated in F18. III and consists of a U member 16 pivotally and resiliently suspended from the frame 8 by suitable means as goose-necks 17 bearing in toggle yokes 18, the toggle yokes being in turn suspended by nuts 19 on lower ends of bolts 20 carrying nuts 21 at their upper ends and being supported on the frame 6 by coil springs 8 encircling the bolts 20.

The sides of U member 16 are somewhat shorter than the table 9 so that when the base of the U is positioned beneath one end of the table the side arms will extend to a point beneath the other end portion of the table 9, but preferably a little short of the end of the table as clearly shown in Figs. I and III.

For forming resilient inter-connection and mutual supporting means between the table 9 and the vibrating unit, two resilient cross members 22 and 23 are provided between. the side arms of the U. These resilient cross members are preferably formed of spring leaves rigidly affixed at their ends to the side bars of the U 16 the resilient member22 being preferably, and member 23 may be if desired, formed of a plurality of said spring leaves with intervening spacers 24.

The preferable construction of the side arms for the mounting of said resilient cross members is clearly illustrated in Figs. I and III and consists of forming the side arms in sections 25 and 26 and providing on the ends of said sections suitable flanges 2'1 for bolting the cross member 22 therebetween and for bolting the cross member 23 thereto. 4

The stems of the Y plates 14 and 15 are aflixed to the resilient cross members 22 and 23 and near the central portion ofeach of the cross members by suitable means as bolts 28 whereby a resilient interconnection is provided between the table 9 and the U member 16.

Suitable means are provided for imparting a vibration to the table 9 through the cross mem-' ber 22 and such means preferably consist of an electromagnet 29 rigidly mounted on the base of the U member 16 as by bolts 30 and having a keeper 31 affixed to the cross member 22.

When alternating current is passed through magnet 29, the keeper 31, the central portion of the cross member 22, the Y 14 and thereby also the table 9, Y 15 and central portion of the crossmember 23 will all be instantaneously retracted to and held by the magnet 29 by the positive semicycle, thereafter the keeper 31 is released during the negative semicycle of the current and the resilience of the cross members 22 and 23, acting through the Ys 14 and 15, moves the table 9 forward whereupon the next positive semicycle of current again retracts the table and so on.

The retraction of the table by the action of the current is quicker than the forward movement of the table caused by the resilience of the cross members 22 and 23 wherefrom it is obvious that the table is given an interrupted or irregular longitudinal vibration, the retracted or backward movement being practically instantaneous while the forward movement is slow in comparison with said backward movement.

The nature of the vibration thus imparted to table 9 and its effect upon the material passing over the table and the part which the said V1- movements operated by any suitable motive power may be employed in place of the magnet 29 and keeper 31 for imparting longitudinal vibration and for varying the length thereof, but the magnet and keeper are preferable for various reasons, and particularly where the hereinafter described process, involving the application of electrical current to the pulp in its passage over the table, is employed.

In such case, electrical apparatus being necessary for the provision of such current, it is economical and convenient to use the magnet and keeper for providing such vibration. The length of longitudinal vibrating movement may be varied by varying the normal magnetic flux and by distortion of the alternating current in well known ways. This movement will ordinarily be approximately three thirty seconds of an inch.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to cause the table to vibrate only longitudinally and in such case the vibration changing brace bar, shown at Fig. X is employed to rigidly couple the resilient members 22 and 23 as indi cated in dotted lines at Fig. III. When thus coupled the central portion of member 23 will be directly distorted by the retraction of keeper 31 and member 22 and this will result in a simple longitudinal vibration of the table.

-When the brace bar X is not used member 23 acts as a drag and tends to retard the movement of the table toward its higher end. This retarding tendency combined with the cantilever mounting of the combined table and vibrating unit and the resilient supports results in a double or combination vibration of the upper end of the table which is given a substantially vertical vibration as well as the longitudinal vibration. These two vibratory movements resolve themselves into a single, circulatory movement of the upper portion of the table, which in turn imparts a circulatory or revolving motion to the contents of the riiiies, thus facilitating amalgamation and the raising and washing away of any gangue matter caught in the upper or amalgamating riilles.

The vertical vibration decreases toward the lower end of the table so that the lower portion of the table has practically only the longitudinal vibration.

When dry material is to be concentrated on the table it may be fed thereto in any suitable manner, well understood, but, when pulp is to be treated for properly mixing and efficiently feeding the pulp to the table, I provide a hopper 32 suitably supported by a framework 33 with a conduit 34 leading from the bottom of the hopper to the feed distributor 35, a water supply pipe 36, with control valve 3'7, being provided and positioned to supply water approximately at the junction of the hopper and the conduit for mixing the water with the material as it passes from the hopper into the conduit. Bailles 38 are provided in the conduit for facilitating the mixing of the water and the material.

Pipe 36 is preferably positioned so as to shoot a stream into the conduit 34 whereby to suck the material from the hopper into the conduit and, in combination with the impedance of the baffles 38, to effect a thorough mixing of the water and material to form a pulp of the desired fluidi y- The feed distributor is clearly illustrated in Figs. VI and VIII and consists of a nozzle, pear shaped in section, but elongated transversely of the table and of a length approximately the width of the table and being so contracted at its lower extremity as to provide a narrow aperture 39 through which a sheet of pulp will be projected downwardly out of said distributor into the trough 10 for substantially the full width of the table 9.

While pulp is being thus supplied to the table, drainage through the bottom of trough 10'is prevented by any suitable plugging of the passage 10a as by a rod inserted therein or a plug in the end thereof.

It will be understood that the table 9 is mounted at an incline downwardly from the end to which the pulp is supplied which inclination is obtained by the relative variation in length of the springs 7 and 8, including the adjustment of the nuts on bolts 20.

While it is not absolutely essential that the trough 10 be positioned beneath the outlet 39 of the distributor 35 it is preferably so positioned in order that the pulp may be projected from the distributor into a mass of pulp in the trough of the table as'above described.

While the table may be used solely for concen-- tration of both wet pulp and dry material, its most desirable use is for combined amalgamation and concentration and when thus used the upper rifles, for preferably from one-third to one-half of the length of the table, are filled with mercury for amalgamating metallic particles which are separated from the gangue.

It will frequently be found desirable to provide a form of rifle for the amalgamating section of the table different from the form of rifle provided for the concentrating section. This difference in form is clearly illustrated in Figs. I and VI, but it is not intended to indicate thereby any particular form of rifle as the form of rifles for both sections of the table may be varied to suit the requirements of any ore being treated.

The general principles of amalgamation of values from ore pulp are well understood and it has been found in practice that the above described vibratory movement of the amalgamating portion of the table during the passage of the pulp thereover, combined with the transverse arrangement of the rifles, gives a very eilicient action.

The material is caused to rotate in the amalgamating rifles, thus aiding in bringing any retained gangue to the top of the rifle where it will be washed away, leaving the heavier particles in the rifle with the mercury. The concentration takes place primarily in the lower rifles and then in the trough 11. The concentrates partially fill the trough 11 and the tailings pass thereover and flow off the lower end of the table. The concentrates in the trough 11 work down into the passage 11a from which they are drained oil into any suitable receptacle.

To aid in the amalgamation of the separated I metallic particles, as well as to cleanse the metallic particles which do not amalgamate, I provide a process and apparatus now to be described.

In amalgamation an impediment frequently is the coating of separated metallic particles as by oxidation thereof. The prevention or removal of such coating will facilitate the amalgamation. The cleansing of particles to be concentrated will likewise facilitate the subsequent treatment of the concentrates.

The present process and apparatus is designed to prevent and to remove any coating of the metallic particles and for this purpose I provide a cover 40 carrying supporting straps 41 mounted at their outer ends between adjusting nuts 42 and on threaded supports 43 mounted on the sides 91: of the table whereby the height of the cover 40 above the bed of the table may be adjusted as desired. Cathodes 44 are carried on the underside of the cover projecting downwardly therefrom toward the amalgamating'riffies.

The cover 40 is formed of a plurality of layers, the bottom layer 40a being of suitable conducting material and connecting, and thus conducting the current to, cathodes 44 from the terminal 45 suitably connected with the generating unit 5 by cable or conductor not shown. The balance of the cover 40 is of suitable non-com ducting material.

As previously stated, the rifled floor of the table is formed of water proof, acid proof, insulating material. Suitable grounds are provided by the fastening screws 46 which secure the rifles 9a. to the metallic bottom 9e of the table.

When the amalgamating rifles are filled with mercury and the pulp is flowed thereover to the desired depth, the cover 40 is so adjusted in height that the lower edges of the cathodes 44 will contact with the flowing pulp whereby the current supplied to the anodes will pass therefrom through the pulp to the mercury in the rifles and thence to the grounds.

The pulp is rendered saline by supplying salt to the water forming the pulp and as such pulp is subjected to the current passing from the anodes to the mercury, chlorine is released therein by the action of the electric current upon the salt resulting in a weak chlorine solution in the pulp, and this solution cleanses the separated metallic particles and thus facilitates the amalgamation of some and cleanses those passing into the concentrates. The chlorine solution is restricted to a strength suflicient only to ac complish the cleansing of the particles.

When it is desired to clean the rifles the lower end of the table may be lifted sufficiently to cause the contents of the rifles to flow over the floor into the trough 10 and thence through the passage 10:: into a suitable receptacle, water being used to facilitate the cleansing of the rifles as necessary.

While ore and pulp have been referred to in the foregoing specification, it will be understood that placer sands and any other fine material containing metallic particles may be treated by the apparatus and in accordance with the process hereinabove described, and that dry concentration may be accomplished by the apparatus as well as concentration of values from pulp.

Also, it will be understood that the passage F of the electrical current through pulp, even without any salt in the pulp, will aid in precipitation of metallic particles and thus aid amalgamation and/or concentration by reason of the conductivity of the mineral particles in pulp material and the native salts, alkalis or acids present in most pulp material.

As the table and vibrating unit are interconnected, as hereinabove described, it is obvious that the raising or lowering of the vibrating unit will raise or lower the table and therefore the inclination of the table may be changed at any time, even during operation, by adjustment of the nuts 21 up or down on bolts 20. This adjustment of inclination of the table during operation is very useful, especially in experimental work on new or untried ores and the like.

. It will also be understood-that many changes may be made in detail of construction within the spirit and scope of the invention and of the appended claims.

The construction of the rlflles as clearly shown at 9a in Figs. I and V1, is an important element in the successful operation of the apparatus and from inspection of the said figures it will be noted that the riiiles are formed with the lower side of each riiile rising upwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed of the table, while the upper side of the rifiie is inclined in the same general direction as the bed of the table but at a greater degree than the degree of inclination of said bed. This form of rifiie cooperates with the particular form of vibration imparted to the table and to the pulp thereupon, as hereinabove described, and renders the operation more effective in accomplishing the separation, concentration and/or amalgamation of the values from the pulp.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, which means are resiliently supported on the frame, said means comprising a vibrating unit having side bars, a resilient cross member between said side bars and having rigid interconnection with the upper portion of the table, a second resilient cross member between said side bars and having rigid interconnection with the lower portion of said table and means for distorting said first cross member and then releasing the same whereby when said first member is thus distorted the table is moved toward its higher end and said second cross member is also distorted and when said first cross member is released the return to normal position of said two cross members moves the table toward its lower end, the combined vibrating means and table being resiliently supported on the frame.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, which means are resiliently supported on the frame, said means comprising a vibrating unit having side bars, a resilient cross member between said side bars and having rigid interconnection with the upper portion of the table, a second resilient cross member between said side bars and having rigid interconnection with the lower portion of said table and means for jerking said first cross member and then releasing the same whereby when said first member is thus jerked the table is jerked toward its higher end and said second cross member is also distorted and when said first cross member is released the return to normal position of said two cross members moves the table toward its lower end, the combined vibrating means and table being resiliently supported on the frame.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a riflied table, a vibratory unit, resilient interconnection between the table and the unit, the combined table and unit being resiliently supported at one end by the frame and, at the other end, being pivotally and resiliently supported by the frame whereby said table is normally higher at said pivotally supported end, but the opposite end may be lifted above said pivoted end for emptying said riflies.

4. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported 1 on said frame.

5. In apparatus of the'class described a frame, a rigid table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported .on said frame.

6. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported on said frame and means to vary the inclination of the table.

7. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported on said frame, interconnection between the table and said means comprising rigid members and resilient members unconnected with the frame, means for jerkingly distorting said resilient members in one direction only and thereafter releasing the same whereby to jerk said table in one direction longitudinally by said distorting means and to move the table in the opposite direction longitudinally by means of and with the return to normal position of said resilient members.

8. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end. of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported on said frame, said means carrying resilient members unconnected with the frame and. means for distorting said resilient members in one direction only and thereafter releasing the same, and rigid interconnection between the table and the resilient members, whereby to move the table longitudinally and with said resilient members as they are distorted from and returned to their normal position.

9. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported on said frame, said means including a plurality of resilient members, each having rigid connection with the table.

10. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, one end of said table being resiliently supported on the frame and the other end of said table being resiliently supported on said means, said means being resiliently supported on said frame, said table havingtransverse rifiies having their lower sides rising upwardly from, and substantially perpendicular to, the plane of the bed of the table and having their upper sides inclined in the same general direction as the inclination of the bed of the table but at a greater degree of inclination.

11. In apparatus of the class described a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, said'table and said means comprising a unitary structure resiliently supported on the frame by vertically resilient interconnection between the frame and the table at one end of said structure and by vertically resilient interconnection between the frame and the vibration imparting means at the other end. of said structure.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a table and means for imparting vibrations to the table, said table and said means being resiliently interconnected and comprising a unitary structure resiliently supported on the frame by resilient interconnection between the frame and the table at one end of said unitary structure and resilient interconnection between the frame and the vibration-imparting means at the other end of said unitary structure.

ROBERT M. COYLE. 

